RoadVitals

2006 Ford Escape Hybrid Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jul 25, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 219 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structure
Filed Jul 25, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN FENTON, MICHIGAN FOR MAINTENANCE, IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOCK TOWER FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

NHTSA ID
11234801
Incident
Jul 15, 2018
Mileage
110,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 31, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL EXPERIENCED SEVERE CORROSION. THE CONTACT NOTICED HOLES INSIDE THE SHOCK AND BRACKET. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

NHTSA ID
10920195
Incident
Oct 28, 2016
Mileage
160,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 18, 2016

I HEARD A LOUD CLUNKY FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL, LOUDER WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. UPON INSPECTION I OBSERVED THE ENTIRE WHEEL WELL WAS MISSING IT'S PROTECTIVE COATING AND FLAKING RUST/CORROSION WAS EVERYWHERE WITH EXPOSED WHITE FIBERGLASS SHEETING VISIBLE THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK IS EXPOSED, MISSING BOLTS AND WITH THE BRACKET MISSING THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CARE (LEFT REAR) DOES NOT EXHIBIT THIS RUST. WITH PALPATION OF THE RIGHT RUSTED REAR WELL A PERSON CAN MOVE THE REMAINING PIECES. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND CAN NOT IMAGINE WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL AS OTHER REVIEWS ONLINE DESCRIBE THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD: NO ASSISTANCE OR RECALL AS OF THIS DATE. I RESIDE IN WISCONSIN AND TOOK CARE TO REMOVE UNDERBODY SALT TO NO AVAIL, EVIDENTIALLY.

NHTSA ID
10850369
Incident
Mar 14, 2016
Mileage
181,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 27, 2014

WE NOTICED BANGING COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. AFTER INVESTIGATING, WE FOUND A NUMBER OF SMALL RUSTED OUT HOLES INTO THE TRUNK FROM JUST THAT WHEEL WELL. THE BANGING WAS THE SHOCK MOUNT AND THE SHOCK ABSORBER HITTING THE WELL. THE RUSTED OUT AREA HAS GROWN. THERE IS NO OTHER INDICATION OF SIGNIFICANT RUST ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE. WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS THE RESULT OF A LEAK FROM THE HYBRID BATTERY; OTHERS, VIA MESSAGE BOARDS AND THE LIKE, HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. WE WERE AFRAID THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBER WOULD HIT THE WHEEL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT SO WE TOOK IT OFF THE ROAD. GIVEN WE NEED THE VEHICLE AND DON'T WANT TO SELL AN OTHERWISE SERVICEABLE SUV FOR SCRAP, WE HOPE YOU CAN PERSUADE FORD TO RECALL THIS MODEL AND FIX THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10594409
Incident
Jan 23, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
Body & structureOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Feb 25, 2014

RIGHT REAR SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTING HAS GOTTEN WEAK AND STARTED TO FLEX. THE WHEEL WELL ABOVE IT HAS LOST THE INTEGRITY OF ITS PLASTIC COATING AND HAS CAUSED IT TO RUST OUT ENORMOUSLY. SHOCK MOUNT AND WHEEL WELL NEED TO BE REPLACE. FROM DOING SOME SEARCHING ONLINE THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THE 04-06 ESCAPE AND CAN LEAD TO A FAILURE OF THE MOUNTING AND MAKE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10565742
Incident
Feb 24, 2014
Mileage
130,000 mi
Body & structureOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Nov 15, 2013

RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND COLLAPSED, EXPOSING SHOCK. SHOCK IS BROKEN. YOU CAN SEE THROUGH WHEEL WELL VIA THE JACK COMPARTMENT. UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ROUGH ESTIMATES ARE $3000-4000, REPLACING WHEEL WELL, SHOCK, AND RIGHT REAR QUARTERPANEL. LEFT WHEEL WELL INTACT AND GOOD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10552423
Incident
Oct 25, 2013
Mileage
115,000 mi
Body & structureOther / unspecified
Filed Nov 11, 2013

RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL FULLY RUSTED OUT, CAUSING SHOCK ABSORBER TO HIT METAL. HOLES YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THE JACK COMPARTMENT. LOUD KNOCKING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10551744
Incident
Nov 1, 2013
Mileage
104,285 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Jul 6, 2013

WE HAVE A 2006 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID - AND JUST THIS MORNING, UPON HEARING AN ODD RATTLE COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR WHEN DROPPING OFF MY DAUGHTER AT THE LOCAL VETERINARY HOSPITAL, I INSPECTED THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HOUSING AND DISCOVERED, TO MY SHOCK, THAT UNDER THE FACTORY BLACK INNER FENDER UNDERCOATING, WHICH WAS HANGING OFF, THE UPPER SHOCK MOUNT WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY PERFORATED WITH RUST, TO THE POINT THAT I COULD FEEL A FLOW OF COLD AIR FROM THE A/C EXITING THE CABIN THROUGH THE PERFORATIONS. I CALLED GANLEY FORD AS SOON AS THEY OPENED, BUT THE BODY SHOP WON'T BE OPEN UNTIL MONDAY. THIS IS MY WIFE'S PRIMARY CAR, AND WITH WHAT I'VE DISCOVERED, I'M RELUCTANT TO HAVE HER, OR ANYONE, DRIVE IT UNTIL THE PROBLEM'S ADDRESSED - AND THE EXTENT OF THE CORROSION IS ASTONISHING. WITH A 400++ POUND BATTERY LOCATED BETWEEN THE LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER SHOCK MOUNTS, AND WITH THE EXTENT OF THE CORROSION I JUST FOUND, I'M EQUALLY CONCERNED FOR THE LEFT REAR UPPER SHOCK MOUNT AND BODY PAN INTEGRITY, AS WELL AS FOR THE HYBRID SYSTEM AND BATTERY PACK. PLEASE HELP ME TO GET INTO IMMEDIATE CONTACT WITH THE PROPER FORD ZONE REPRESENTATIVE TO GET A LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND DECIDE WHERE TO GO FROM HERE - THIS IS A PREMIUM HYBRID SUV THAT I THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED BEFORE SELECTING TO PURCHASE, AND NOW I'M AFRAID TO EVEN MOVE IT FROM MY PARKING DECK AT THE OFFICE. THIS CAR, AND OTHER ESCAPES SUFFERING FROM THIS SAME ISSUE, ARE ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN. A SIMPLE WEB SEARCH SHOWS THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF ESCAPES SUFFERING THE SAME ISSUES. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE AND I WOULD ASK SINCERELY THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE AND ACT QUICKLY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10523458
Incident
Jul 6, 2013
Mileage
130,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .